Thoughts from a frustrated HD-DVD supporter (1 Viewer)

[Brent M]

After sitting on the fence for a few months, I caved and bought an A1 HD-DVD player back in early Oct. and since then I've bought a decent amount of discs to start a collection(about 18 or 19 at last count). Until recently, I had been pretty happy with my decision and had not regretted it one bit. However, I must say that the recent onslaught of Blu-Ray releases and announced titles has me wondering if I made the right choice. As of right now, I'm already missing out on BDs like Black Hawk Down, Kingdom of Heaven: Director's Cut, X3: The Last Stand, Enemy of the State, Speed and others. Even worse, however, is the fact that CES has seen A TON of titles(Casino Royale, Pirates of the Caribbean, Independence Day, The Rock, Crimson Tide, Con Air, Predator, Silence of the Lambs, Mr. and Mrs. Smith, Master and Commander, Ronin and even season sets of "24") I'd be interested in buying announced as BD exclusives. As much as I had sworn against buying into both formats, I'm afraid 2007 will see me purchasing either a stand-alone BD player or the new LG combo unit as I just can't see missing out on all the great titles that HD-DVD apparently won't get to offer us. Thoughts?

 

[Robert Crawford]

You only had to take inventory as to how many studios were supporting each respective format to see that BR had a distinct advantage that some HD DVD supporters basically ignored due to HD DVD being the first out of the gate, Blu-ray having a very weak format launch and HD DVD having lower priced hardware and software in the case of Fox and Disney Blu-ray MSRP. However, I am still not prepared to say that Blu-ray will win this format war, but the worm has turn to their favor. IMO, I think there won't be a format winner anytime soon, unless, Universal has something up it's sleeve in which case it decides to support both formats which entailed will really hurt the HD DVD camp.

In closing, this mess is still as confusing as it was earlier this past summer.

 

[ScottHM]

Aren't all those titles already out on DVD?

My opinion is that it's too early to jump into either hi-def format unless one has plenty of disposable income and doesn't mind spending it on something that may become obsolete fairly quickly. If not wasting money is a priority then it's too early to jump into the Blu-ray/HD-DVD war.

IOW, don't spend good money after bad until you're comfortable doing so.

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[Dave_P.]

Forget about the combo player if you want to use iHD function on HD-DVD. It doesn't support them. Keep your A1, get a PS3 or Sammy from amazon for $500 and save money.

 

[Brent M]

I don't think either format is obsolete as there will be plenty of players on the market to play them for a long time to come. I too used to be of the opinion that DVD would suffice for the immediate future until I started watching a lot of stuff in HD. I can honestly say that almost every single HD-DVD I have blows away its DVD counterpart and that's why I am now very interested in how it all plays out. I guess time will tell.

 

[Stephen_J_H]

Don't beat yourself up over the decision. The format war isn't over yet.

 

[Tim Glover]

Certainly the BD titles that are being announced now for the spring and summer are good. Some are not but the ones from Disney are! Robert is right in that I knew the risk I took by jumping in the HD-DVD camp. HD-DVD had a really good year in 2006 and I'm not prepared to think differently. I never thought (as some dreamy eyed avs fanboys did) that a studio like Disney would defect or be neutral at this years CES. Just too soon.

With the BD launch really starting now, I was prepared for the shift in momentum. That said, yeah, I know this is a pivotal year for HD-DVD.

I also know that whatever happens and it won't be decided anytime soon, I will have immensley enjoyed my HD-DVD collection on my SLOW but excellent HD-A1. And it's excellent standard def upconversion will still be used.

I think by the time the format war is done, I'll be wanting a new player anyway.

The Glass is always half full at the Glover Homestead.

 

[Chuck Mayer]

I am happy I have both, but I understand the frustration of HD-DVD enthusiasts. It seems that BD has taken a leap that has nothing to do with technology, merely exclusivity. Universal should have fought for a few of their big movies, but they haven't. Warner's alone could turn the tide to HD, but why should they? They are doing the right thing, and supporting BOTH, letting the technology choose the "winner", not legal departments.

Even though I have a PS3, I'll likely be getting a "real" BD deck this year. But I won't give up on HD DVD yet.

 

[Mike.P]

The lack of announcements from Universal is certainly alarming.

Overall, though, I got into this war for a minimal investment - $200 dollars via the HD-DVD add on from Microsoft. As long as I get stuff like the Matrix Trilogy, The LOTR trilogy, The Fountain, Blade Runner, and hopefully a few select titles from Universal (mainly Children of Men and Gladiator), I'll have felt I've gotten my money's worth worlds over.

That said, from the beginning I've known I'll eventually be getting a PS3 (being an avid gamer who has owned every major system at one point or another), so I'd eventually be moving into the Blu-Ray camp as well.

 

[Tim Glover]

Universal being quiet at this CES is not a good thing IMO. Probably won't change much in real terms but right now it's ALL about spin & momentum. Universal with it's HD-DVD exclusivity could have announced some gems this year but didn't. They sent flyers out with a list but not much of a show stopper by doing that.

 

[Paul Borges]

Format wars suck. Supporters of both sides are frustrated.

 

[Jesse Skeen]

As I've said from the beginning, I won't be supporting EITHER format until at least one of the following happens:

A machine comes out that plays both (the ideal solution)
One format dies- then I buy the one that wins, and buy up the failed one to keep with my CED collection
One format turns out to be so much better than the other, that there'd be no rational reason for me to have the other, and exclusive titles are few and/or insignificant.

Shame on everyone responsible for there being 2 competing formats in the first place.

 

[Brent M]

I agree that Universal really "screwed the pooch" by basically staying silent at CES. Way to get behind HD-DVD and support the format. :rolleyes

 

[Andrew Bunk]

I bought into both formats in November, but I know I felt like HD-DVD had the edge. I bought all my format neutral discs on HD-DVD for the better audio.

I'm starting to regret that.

Now, three of the biggest titles that got me into HD-DVD were Batman Begins, King Kong and V For Vendetta. The WB discs aren't on BD yet, and KK may never be. So I felt somewhat justified going for HD-DVD. I even bought more expensive HD-DVD combo discs from WB that I could have gotten as Blu-Rays.

I'll still be buying Brokeback Mountain in two weeks, but I may change my Black Rain order to Blu from HD-DVD. And I will definitely be buying the Departed on Blu-Ray since I can then avoid the combo.

 

[Keith E]

I received a Philips Blu-Ray player from my wife for Christmas and am happy to say that I have both formats. I still believe that HD-DVD is a better format as far as picture quality goes, but it is nice to be able to enjoy the movies I want to in HD quality regardless of format. So far the best quality Blu-Ray discs I've seen have been from Fox, otherwise on HD-DVD all the discs that I've seen regardless of studio have been very consistent.

 

[Paul_Scott]

The reason I bought into HD DVD initially (2 weeks after it launched actually) was because of a perception of value.
The price was a factor as $500 was in my impulse range, but more importantly word from early users was that the unit was solid, well made and that early discs proved that 30 gb were enough to put the goods on the screen.

I've always felt that the lower production costs for HD DVD software would represent a big advantage- an advantage that would translate into HD DVD studios being able to afford releasing a wider variety of content over time.

I too wish we had gotten more substantial software information- with actual dates- but this isn't the first time in my ownership where I've been concerned or pissed off. I remember feeling kind of burned early in Aug when a whole first summer had gone by without ANY releases that I was interested in. Then finally The Searchers was announced...and then shortly thereafter the floodgates opened and titles I loved but never thought I would see this early were announced- one after the other.

It'll come.

It may sound like tin-foil hat musing, but I gotta wonder if the whole "HD DVD has been cracked" story that came out (and has gone away) prior to the show may have caused some circumspection on the part of the HD DVD supporting studios? Corporations surely don't have spies and saboteurs who would rig up something phoney like that to create an intended effect? nah...that's just way too far fetched. Besides the BDA has always been known to play fair and conscientious. I mean just look at the projection that Fox graphed out. If that isn't a model of sobriety and factuality, I don't know what it.

 

[Chris S]

If you really are overly concerned, and I don't think you have a reason to be, you can always off load your HD-DVD player and discs here for, I imagine, pretty close to what you paid for them. You might take a small hit of $100-$200(max) but you could redirect that money into BD. But honestly... don't worry either way. BD had/will have its bad days and so will HD-DVD. Enjoy what you have now and let the future sort itself out.

 

[Paul_Scott]

wise words.

 

[DanR]

Crawdaddy,

You could be more right than you know.

In all seriousness, I assume being a moderator here means you probably get some scoops from the owners of this forum and others that are not repeated publicly and kept quiet amongst yourselves. Ask Ron or your guys' contacts within the industry who would know such a thing; I suspect you'll find your post above to be prophetic in nature (whether you've done it "on purpose" because you do know something, I cannot tell for sure).

That's all for now...

Take it easy & enjoy,
Dan

 

[TheBat]

I don't know about bluray.. it seems they are releasing titles with old transfers made into HD version and hardly any extra features. I like how warner bros is porting the extras from the dvds and then some like the in movie experiences on batman begins and v for vendetta.

Jacob